Apparatus and Method for Supporting a Flexible Hose Sprinkler Head on an Elevated Irrigation Supply Line

ABSTRACT

An adaptive support is provided for a flexible hose sprinkler head on an elevated irrigation supply line that includes a sprinkler support body and a hanger body. The sprinkler support body has a first inter-fitting contact surface. The body is disposed to support a downwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose. The hanger body has a second inter-fitting contact surface configured to mate with the first inter-fitting contact surface. The hanger body is disposed to support the sprinkler body at an elevated position. A method is also provided for changing elevation of a sprinkler head.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to moving irrigation systems. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods forelevating sprinkler heads on a moving irrigation system to accommodatechanges in crop height during a crop growing cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is previously known to irrigate crops in large fields using either acenter pivot or a linear move irrigation device. Originally, thesedevices had a spaced-apart array of individual sprinklers provided atopa main water supply line that was elevated above a field. Over time,U-shaped horseshoe adapters were added in order to allow attachment ofdownwardly extending drops made from rigid water lines to which asprinkler was affixed at a bottom end. However, for crops that grow torelatively tall heights, such as corn, there existed a need to adjustthe height of sprinklers.

As shown in FIG. 1, rigid water lines of prior systems were replaced ona center pivot irrigation device 10 with flexible hoses 23 that affixedbetween the horseshoe 22 and the sprinkler head 36 (see FIG. 2) to forma flexible drop 18. Center pivot irrigation device 10 has a main line,or water pipe 20 that receives a supply of water at a center stand 13and extends out to a terminal end 16, delivering water tosprinkler/regulator assemblies 36 on a serial array of spans 14 that areeach supported between adjacent towers 12 by a pair of wheels 15. Asprinkler weight 30 is provided adjacent each sprinkler/regulatorassembly 36 in order to reduce movement of drop 23 due to wind. As cropsgrow in elevation, the hose 23 is wrapped around the main waterline pipe20, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to raise the sprinkler head ofsprinkler/regulator assembly 36. A worker 11 manipulates each hose aboutpipe 20 by walking along truss rods 27, which are suspended by adjacentbowstring truss assemblies 21 of the truss 19. Worker 11 also wraps adrop weight 30 and sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 about pipe 20 as hose23 is wrapped about pipe 20. However, worker 11 can slip and fall fromtruss rods 27 on the device 10 and get injured when raising and loweringsuch a sprinkler/regulator assembly 36. Accordingly, a need exists toadjust height of sprinklers on a moving irrigation device 10 withoutplacing a worker 11 at risk of injury from a fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus and method are provided for raising and lowering sprinklersprovided on a moving irrigation device, such as a center pivot or linearmove irrigation device. A sprinkler support body and a hanger body areprovided for selectively supporting individual sprinklers at raisedpositions above a traditional drop position. Furthermore, a lifting tooland a sprinkler support body are provided for lifting and lowering thesprinkler on each drop between elevated and lowered, or drop positions.Finally, a method is provided for raising and lowering a sprinklerbetween the elevated and lowered, or drop positions.

According to one aspect, an adaptive support is provided for a flexiblehose sprinkler head on an elevated irrigation supply line that includesa sprinkler support body and a hanger body. The sprinkler support bodyhas a first inter-fitting contact surface. The body is disposed tosupport a downwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose. The hanger bodyhas a second inter-fitting contact surface configured to mate with thefirst inter-fitting contact surface. The hanger body is disposed tosupport the sprinkler body at an elevated position.

According to another aspect, a support is provided for a flexible hosewith a sprinkler head of an elevated irrigation supply line. The supportincludes a sprinkler support body and a hanger body. The sprinklersupport body has one of a male member and a female member and anengagement surface configured to mate and demate with a lifting tool.The body is affixed to a downwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose.The hanger body has another of the male member and the female memberconfigured to mate with the one of the male member and the femalemember. The hanger body is disposed to support the sprinkler body at anelevated position.

According to yet another aspect, a method is provided for changingelevation of a sprinkler head on a flexible hose of an elevatedirrigation supply line. The method includes: providing a sprinklersupport body communicating with one of the sprinkler head and the hose,a hanger body supported relative to the supply line at an elevatedlocation, and a lifting tool configured to mate and demate with thesupport body; mating the lifting tool with the support body; and whilemated, moving the sprinkler head with the lifting tool between adownwardly depending position beneath the supply line and an elevatedposition where the sprinkler support body mates with the hanger body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a center pivot irrigationdevice having an array of prior art flexible hose sprinkler heads.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the irrigation deviceof FIG. 1, illustrating a prior art technique with a worker raising anindividual flexible hose sprinkler head above a growing crop toaccommodate crop growth.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating a workerraising an individual flexible hose sprinkler head from ground levelusing an adaptive sprinkler support body and a lifting tool according toone embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a sprinkler supportbody and a mating lifting tool aligned to be engaged with the sprinklersupport body as it would be positioned if it were mounted to a loweredsprinkler drop prior to lifting a sprinkler to an elevated position.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the lifting tool and sprinkler supportbody of FIG. 4 illustrating engagement of the tool with the body, tobegin a process of lifting and pivoting a sprinkler/regulator assemblyof a sprinkler drop.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view later in time of the lifting tool andsprinkler support body of FIG. 4A illustrating forward and upwardengagement of the tool with the body while lifting and pivoting thesprinkler/regulator assembly as a sprinkler drop begins to pendulum inan upward direction.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view later in time of the lifting tool andsprinkler support body of FIG. 4B illustrating further lifting andpivoting of the sprinkler/regulator assembly towards an invertedposition.

FIG. 4D is a perspective view later in time of the lifting tool andsprinkler support of FIG. 4C illustrating the body andsprinkler/regulator assembly completely inverted and seated atop thetool and being raised to an elevated position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sprinkler/regulator assembly seatedin a raised configuration with the body seated atop a hanger bodyaffixed to a drop elbow atop a main span pipe of a center pivotirrigation device.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the hanger body of FIGS. 3 and5.

FIG. 7 is a left elevational view of the hanger body of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the hanger body of FIGS. 6-7.

FIG. 9 is a front end elevational view of the hanger body of FIGS. 6-8.

FIG. 10 is a rear end elevational view of the hanger body of FIGS. 6-9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view from above of the sprinkler support bodyof FIGS. 3-5.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from below of the sprinkler support bodyof FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the sprinkler support body ofFIGS. 11-12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the sprinkler support body of FIGS. 11-13.

FIG. 15 is a centerline sectional view of the sprinkler support body ofFIGS. 11-14 taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a vertical centerline sectional view of the sprinkler supportbody and hanger body mated together and showing other irrigationcomponents in phantom side view while a sprinkler is supported in anelevated position.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of a sprinkler/regulatorassembly seated in a raised configuration using an alternate embodimentsprinkler support body seated atop a hanger body affixed to a drop elbowatop a main span pipe of a center pivot irrigation device.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the sprinkler support body of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the sprinkler support body of FIG.17.

FIG. 20 is a vertical centerline sectional view of the sprinkler supportbody engaged with a lifting tool and taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of a further alternativeembodiment sprinkler support body and hanger body over that depicted inFIG. 17.

FIG. 22 is an optional embodiment of the sprinkler support body of FIGS.17-21.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged perspective view of yet another alternativeembodiment sprinkler support body and lifting tool.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged side component view with portions in phantomshowing the sprinkler support body of FIG. 24 seated atop acomplementary alternative embodiment sprinkler hanger body.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged side component view showing another alternativeembodiment sprinkler support body.

FIG. 26 is a series montage of a sprinkler support body, sprinklerhanger body, and lifting tool according to yet another embodimentshowing successive positioning over time during a lifting operation.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged side view of a single piece sprinkler hanger bodyand gooseneck according to even another embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged side view of a two-piece variation of thesprinkler hanger and gooseneck of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutionalpurposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science anduseful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

FIG. 3 illustrates a sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 on a flexible hosedrop, or hose 23 being raised atop a main water line, or pipe 20 of acenter pivot irrigation device 10, according to one embodiment. FIGS.3-16 illustrate construction and use of this embodiment. It isunderstood that the same implementation can be used to raise and lower asprinker/regulator assembly on a hose drop relative to a linear moveirrigation device.

As shown in FIG. 3, a worker 11 is depicted raising one of a series ofsprinkler/regulator assemblies 36 on a downwardly hanging flexible hosedrop 23 of a center pivot irrigation device 10 using a lifting tool 34while worker 11 remains at ground level. During use, lifting tool 34mates and demates with a sprinkler support body, or puck 26. Sprinklersupport body 26 is mounted rigidly between sprinkler/regulator assembly36 and a sprinkler weight 30, as will be described below in greaterdetail with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D. Early in a crop growth cycle, suchas for corn crops, hose drop 23 hangs down adjacent the crop. As thecrop grows in height, raising the potential to interrupt waterdistribution from each sprinkler 24, worker 11 raises each sprinkler 24individually using lifting tool 34 while worker 11 remains at groundlevel. In this manner, worker 11 avoids the need to climb up a ladder,or climb onto truss rods 27 of truss 19 on device 10.

In order to hold each sprinkler 24 at an elevated position, lifting tool34 is used to elevate sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and accompanyinghose drop 23 for engagement with a hanger body 28 that is supported on agooseneck, or horseshoe pipe 22 extending from atop main water line, orpipe 20 of device 10. Likewise, tool 34 is used to engage with sprinklersupport body 26 at the end of a growing season in order to lower eachsprinkler 24.

FIG. 4 illustrates the positioning of lifting tool 34 prior to engagingwith sprinkler support body 26, but with sprinkler drop componentsomitted, and prior to lifting a sprinkler to an elevated position. Moreparticularly, lifting tool 34 includes an elongate handle, or pole 35, awire form fork 48, and a hose clamp 52. Fork 48 is formed from a foldedover section of cylindrical wire rod that is bent along a length to forma pair of substantially parallel wire form fingers, or tines 50 spacedlaterally from a central axis of the folded over section of the rod soas to provide an offset of fingers 50. Optionally, fork 48 can beaffixed directly onto handle 35 by welding or being embedded in anepoxy-filled aperture in the end of handle 35.

Fingers 50 each provide a male engagement surface 51 that mates anddemates with a female engagement surface 53. According to thisconstruction, surface 51 and surface 53 are not completely complementarysurfaces, but provide sufficient mating contact to provide stablesupport of fingers 50 within apertures 32 sufficient to raise and lowera sprinkler/regulator assembly. Optionally, the male and female surfacescan be complementary, such as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG.22, where the male surface is cylindrical and the female surface is acompletely complementary, cylindrical surface. Further optionally, asingle finger can be mated and demated with a single aperture. Evenfurther optionally, a male surface can be provided by the sprinklersupport body and the female surface can be provided by the lifting tool,such as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 21. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 21, the female surface on the sprinkler support bodymates and demates with both the lifting tool and the support bracket.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a tool 34 is provided for manipulating position ofa sprinkler 24 on a hose drop of an irrigation device. A sprinklersupport body 26 is physically coupled directly or indirectly to thesprinkler 24. The sprinkler support body 26 has a portion 42 configuredto mate with a component of a sprinkler drop for supporting a sprinkler24 at an elevated position and a lifting tool contact portion 32. Thelifting tool 34 has an elongate handle 35 and an engagement member 50depending from the handle with a contact surface 51 (see FIG. 4) thatinter-fits with the body contact surface 32 when raising and lowering asprinkler 24.

As shown in FIG. 5, a lifting support body 26 is provided for a flexibleline drop sprinkler 24. Body 26 comprises a toroidal sprinkler supportbody having a portion 40 (see FIG. 4) configured to secure to acomponent 28 (see FIG. 5) of a sprinkler drop and having a lifting toolaperture 32 for receiving a lifting tool 34 for raising and lowering asprinkler 24 (see FIG. 5).

Fingers 50 of tool 34 are spaced apart laterally to match correspondingadjacent L-shaped holes, or apertures 32 provided in a radial arraywithin sprinkler support body 26. As shown in FIG. 4, body 26 takes onthe shape of a cylindrical puck 38 having a cylindrical outer contactsurface 40. Puck 38 has a pair of progressively smaller cylindricalouter contact surfaces 44 and 46. A reduced diameter bore 42 extendsinto puck 38 within contact surface 46.

FIGS. 4A-4D depict progressive steps involved when mating togetherlifting tool 34 and sprinkler support body 26 in order to raisesprinkler/regulator assembly 36, sprinkler weight 30, and flexible hose23 of a sprinkler drop to an elevated position. Body 26 is rigidlysecured between a sprinkler weight 30 and a sprinkler/regulator assembly36. Optionally, body 26 can be integrally formed from weight 30 orregulator 25. Further optionally, body 26 can take on any of a number ofshapes that enable a lifting tool to engage with and disengage from thebody to enable raising and lowering of a sprinkler and hose drop. Suchfurther optional configurations also include any shape that provides acontact surface that inter-fits, or mates with another contact surfaceon a hanger body atop a main water line of an irrigation device. Suchinterfitting configurations of male and female members can be exactly,or completely complementary, or they can be roughly complementarysufficient to support raising and lowering of a sprinkler and relatedcomponents on a sprinkler drop.

As shown in FIG. 4A, tool 34 is moved forward to insert fingers 50within a radially extending portion 55 of each L-shaped aperture 32 fora downwardly hanging sprinkler hose drop. Fingers 50 function tostabilize sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 as tool 34 isused to push sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 forward andupward as suspended at the end of hose 23 like a pendulum. In thismanner, sprinkler 24 is swung upwardly at the end of the respective hosedrop, as shown progressively in FIGS. 4B-4D. As sprinkler/regulatorassembly 36 approaches a horizontal position, fingers 50 insert furtherinto axial portions 54 of apertures 32, enabling upside-down seating ofsprinkler support body 26, weight 30, and sprinkler/regulator assembly36.

As shown in FIG. 4A, body 26 is rigidly secured to regulator 25 with oneend of a double threaded end pipe nut fitting (a nipple with a medialnut) 56. An opposite end of fitting 56 threads into a complementarythreaded end of weight 30. Both ends of fitting 56 self-seal with weight30 and regulator 25, respectively. Water is delivered from a main line,through a flexible hose drop, through weight 30 and regulator 25 fordispersal from sprinkler 24.

As shown in FIG. 4B, tool 34 is pushed forward, causingsprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 to rotate upwardly at theend of the respective hose of a sprinkler drop (not shown). Fingers 50begin to pivot within axial portion 54 of each L-shaped aperture 32 asassembly 36 and weight 30 rotate and pivot upwardly.

As shown in FIG. 4C, fingers 50 have slid into full axial engagementwithin axial portion 54 of each L-shaped aperture 32. The flexible hose(see FIG. 5) of the sprinkler drop flexes and pivots much like apendulum while tool 34 acts against body 26, weight 30 and assembly 36.

As shown in FIG. 4D, fingers 50 mate in interfitting engagement withinrespective axial portions 54 of apertures 32 so as to stably supportsprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 in an upside downconfiguration. In this upside down configuration, a worker can raisesprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 while tool 34 is engagedwith sprinkler support body 26 in order to mate body 26 with hanger body28 (see FIG. 5). The upside down configuration shown in FIG. 4Dcorresponds with that depicted in FIG. 3 as a worker 11 raises sprinkler24 upwardly where body 26 is mated in inter-fitting engagement with acorresponding hanger body atop main line 20.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4D and 5, sprinkler support body 26 and hanger body28 provide an adaptive support for a flexible hose sprinkler head on anelevated irrigation supply line. The sprinkler support body 28 has afirst inter-fitting contact surface. The sprinkler support body 28 isdisposed to support a downwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose. Thehanger body 28 has a second inter-fitting contact surface configured tomate with the first inter-fitting contact surface. The hanger body 28 isdisposed to support the sprinkler body at an elevated position.

FIG. 5 illustrates sprinkler 24 positioned in an elevated location aftersprinkler support body 26 has been dropped into mating engagement withhanger body 28, thereby supporting sprinkler 24, regulator 25, weight30, and hose 23. More particularly, sprinkler support body 26 isdisposed to support flexible sprinkler hose 23 while in this elevatedlocation. Hose 30 is bent, or curved upwardly from a normal downwardlyhanging drop position. When water is delivered through hose 23, hose 23has a tendency to straighten out, but sprinkler support body 26 mates incomplementary relation with a yoke 64 on hanger body 28 that preventsrotation of body 26 (and sprinkler 24). Yoke 64 forms a mouth thatexposes several apertures 32, which enables insertion and removal offingers 50 on tool 34 (see FIGS. 4A-4D).

As shown in FIG. 5, sprinkler support body 26 and hanger body 28cooperate to provide an adaptive support for a sprinkler head 24 on aterminal end of a flexible drop hose 23 on an elevated irrigation watersupply line 20 of an irrigation device. Hose 23 is affixed with threads(not shown) onto a U-shaped pipe, or gooseneck 22 atop line 20. A curvedclamp arm 62 on hanger body 28 is affixed atop U-shaped pipe 22 using apair of hose clamps 58. In this configuration, yoke 64 is supportedoutwardly from gooseneck 22 via an extended arm 60. This ensures thathose 23 clears along an opposite side of pipe 20 than from thedownwardly extending end of gooseneck 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, a method is provided for changing elevationof a sprinkler head on a flexible hose of an elevated irrigation supplyline. The method includes: providing a sprinkler support bodycommunicating with one of the sprinkler head and the hose, a hanger bodysupported relative to the supply line at an elevated location, and alifting tool configured to mate and demate with the support body; matingthe lifting tool with the support body; and while mated, moving thesprinkler head with the lifting tool between a downwardly dependingposition beneath the supply line and an elevated position where thesprinkler support body mates with the hanger body.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate one embodiment for hanger body 28. As shown inFIG. 6, yoke 64 on arm 60 forms a pair of arms 66 and 68 that subtendgreater than a semicircle and provide a vertically extending femalecontact surface 70. A radially inwardly extending shelf 72 is providedbeneath surface 70 by yoke 64. A series of elevated, elongate enforcingribs 73-75 are intermittently spaced apart atop clamp arm 62 with spaceprovided there between to accommodate hose clamps 58 (see FIG. 5).

FIGS. 7 and 8 further illustrate spaced apart configuration of ribs73-75 on body 28 so as to provide hose clamp gaps 76 and 77 (see FIG. 7)along arm 62. Additionally, the manner in which arms 66 and 68 extendgreater than a semi-circle is shown in FIG. 8, thereby ensuring that acorresponding male cylindrical outer contact surface 40 on sprinklersupport body 26 mates in complementary engagement with femalecylindrical contact surface 70. Shelf 72 forms a seat beneath body 26when received in mating engagement within surface 70.

FIG. 9 illustrates in front end view female cylindrical contact surface70 and shelf 72 of body 28, as provided by arms 66 and 68 of yoke 64.Furthermore, FIGS. 9 and 10 show curved clamp arm 62 in front and rearend views, respectively.

FIGS. 11-15 illustrate one embodiment for sprinkler support body 26.More particularly, body 26 is formed in the shape of a cylindrical puckhaving a pair of central through bores 42 and 43. Bores 42 and 43 arecoincident with a central axis of body 26, and extend completely throughbody 26 from a top surface 80 to a bottom surface 81. Bore 42 has asmaller diameter than bore 43.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a circumferential array of L-shapedapertures 32 are provided about body 26, each aperture 32 communicatingwith outer surface 40 for receiving fingers 50 of tool 34 (see FIGS.4A-4D). A circumferential array of radially extending ribs 78 formcontiguously with outer surface 40 so as to define apertures 32.Depending downwardly from outer surface 40 are a pair of radiallyreduced diameter cylindrical segments 44 and 46. As shown in FIG. 13,segment 44 of body 26 provides for partial passage of a regulatorthrough body 26 (see FIG. 16), while surface 40 seats with yoke 26.Segment 46 provides a washer surface, or abutment against which a bottomedge of the regulator is seated (see FIG. 16). As shown in FIG. 12, eachL-shaped aperture 32 comprises an axial portion 54 and a radial portion55.

FIGS. 14 and 15 depict the coaxial positioning of bores 42 and 43 withinbody 26. Bore 42 provides for passage of a double threaded pipe nutfitting 56 (see FIGS. 4A-4D). Furthermore, surface 40 and radial outeredges of ribs 78 mate as inter-fitting contact surfaces withcomplementary surface 70 of hanger body 70 (of FIG. 6).

FIG. 16 illustrates sprinkler support body 26 mated in inter-fittingcontact with hanger body 28 to support sprinkler/regulator assembly 36at an elevated position atop main water line 20. Hanger body 28 andsprinkler support body 26 are shown in centerline sectional view withcertain irrigation device components shown in phantom, such as gooseneck22, hose 23, main line 20, and weight 30. Hose clamps 58 secure body 28atop gooseneck 22. Optionally, body 28 can be secured to gooseneck 22with U-bolts, muffler clamps, interconnecting members, or any other typeof suitable fastener. Further optionally, body 26 and body 28 can beintegrally formed together, as shown below with reference to FIG. 27.

As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 3-16, sprinkler 24 is anR3000 Rotator, sold by Nelson Irrigation Corporation, 848 Airport Road,Walla Walla, Wash. 99362. Furthermore, regulator 25 is a NelsonUniversal Pressure Regulator, sold by Nelson Irrigation Corporation, 848Airport Road, Walla Walla, Wash. 99362.

FIGS. 17-20 illustrate one alternative embodiment adaptive support for aflexible hose sprinkler head using an alternatively constructedsprinkler support body 126 that mounts at a desired location along amedial portion of flexible hose drop 23 (see FIG. 17) using a hose clamp131. As shown in FIG. 17, sprinkler support body 126 is lifted up in amanner similar to that depicted in FIGS. 4 and 4A-4D, but body 126 isnot inverted upside down in the process. As shown in FIG. 20, body 126is raised using fork 48 on tool 34 (see FIG. 4) by inserting fingers 50into corresponding apertures 132 in the bottom of body 126 and raisingbody 126 upwardly for mating with hanger body 28 (see FIG. 17) atopgooseneck 22 on main water line 20. Hose drop 23 is flexible andaccommodates this raised orientation by forming a U-shaped bend upstreamof body 126. Sprinkler weight 30, regulator 25 and sprinkler 24 hangdownwardly from body 126 in this raised configuration, in a mannersimilar to how they hang in a normal lowered configuration fromgooseneck 22.

As shown in FIG. 18, sprinkler support body 126 has an inner cylindricalbore 142 sized to receive a hose drop 23 (see FIG. 17) and a narrowedslot 143 through which hose drop 23 is press-fit during assembly. A hoseclamp 131 (see FIG. 17) is then affixed about an integrally formedcollar 182 (see FIG. 18) in order to further secure body 126 at aselected location onto a hose drop. Trapezoidal apertures 132 are sizedto receive fingers 50 of tool 34 (see FIG. 4). Cylindrical outerdiameter surface 140 provides a mating, or inter-fitting contact surfacethat mates in complementary engagement with contact surface 70 on hanger28 (see FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 19, collar 182 of body 126 has a reduced diameterbetween cylindrical end flange 183 and a base diameter formingcylindrical outer contact surface 140. This reduced diameter helpsretain a hose clamp in position about collar 182.

FIG. 20 illustrates sprinkler support body 26 in centerline sectionalview with a finger 50 of fork 48 (on tool 34, of FIG. 4) received inengagement within aperture 132 while lifting and lowering a sprinklerfrom hanger body 28 (of FIG. 17). In this manner, fingers 50 mate anddemate with apertures 132 when lifting and lowering a sprinkler head.

FIG. 21 depicts an alternative construction for a sprinkler hanger body1028 over that shown in FIG. 17. More particularly, hanger body 1028includes a pair of pins 1026 that extend upwardly from a yoke end ofbody 1028. Hanger body 1028 envelopes hose drop 23 adjacent to pins1026, as sprinkler support body 126 is lowered with tool 34 (not shown,see FIG. 4) onto pins 1026 and a top surface of body 1028. According tothis construction, apertures 132 form a contact surface for mating withan outer contact surface of each pin on tool 34 (see FIG. 4). Apertures132 also each form a female contact surface 1070 for mating with a malecontact surface 1040 on each pin 1026. Surfaces 1040 and 1070 providefirst and second inter-fitting contact surfaces that serve to support asprinkler body at an elevated position.

FIG. 22 depicts another alternative construction for a sprinkler supportbody 226 having cylindrical apertures 232 over that shown in theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 17-20. Fingers 50 on tool 34 (see FIG. 4)are sized to mate and demate with apertures 232 when raising andlowering a sprinkler.

FIG. 23 depicts yet another alternative embodiment adaptive support fora flexible hose sprinkler head with a sprinkler support body 326 thatmates and demates with a hanger body (not shown) similar to hanger body28 (of FIG. 5). A radial outer surface of body 326 is received in matingcomplementary relation with surface 70 on hanger body 28 (see FIGS. 5and 6). A circumferential groove 340 about body 326 is sized to mate incomplementary relation with an inner surface 370 of an articulating claw328 provided on an elongate tool arm 334. Jaw portion 328 is opened,then closed about inner surface 370 to grab and raise body 326 whenraising sprinkler/regulator 36 to an elevated position atop a main waterline of an irrigation device. Similarly, jaw portion 328 is engagedaround body 326 in order to retrieve and lower a sprinkler/regulator 36from such a raised position. Jaw portion 328 has a pair of opposed jawsurfaces 370 that are geared together (not shown) so as to open andclose in opposed, identical pivotal positions, with a spring tending tohold the jaws open and a flexible cable routed in a flexible plastictube used to work against the spring so as to open up the jaws prior togriping groove 340.

FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate even another alternative embodiment adaptivesupport for a flexible hose sprinkler head with a sprinkler support body426 that is formed by machining a radial array of apertures 432 (seeFIG. 25) into a one pound weight for flexible drops currently sold byNelson Irrigation Corporation, 848 Airport Road, Walla Walla, Wash.99362. Optionally, a single pair of adjacent apertures can be formed inbody 426 in a configuration that receives fingers on a lifting tool(similar to fingers 50 on tool 24 of FIGS. 4A-4D). Body 426 has a radialouter surface 440 that mates in complementary relation with a femalesurface 470 provided on a hanger body 428. Hanger body 428 is otherwisesimilar to hanger body 28 of FIG. 6, save for the modified femalesurface 470.

As shown in FIG. 25, a cup-shaped washer 57 is inserted between nut 56and regulator 25 and serves to urge body 426 into frustoconicalengagement with a tapered outer surface of regulator 25.

FIG. 26 illustrates yet even another alternative embodiment adaptivesupport for a flexible hose sprinkler head with a sprinkler support body528 having a female contact surface 570 provided by a hanger body 528that mates and demates with a male contact surface 540 on a pin 527 on asprinkler support body 526. Surface 540 is also designed to mate anddemate with a lifting tool 534.

As shown in FIG. 26, sprinkler support body 526 is made from a squareplate that supports a rectangular array of four cylindrical pins 527. Asshown in FIG. 26, only two pins in the foreground are visible and it isunderstood that there is a corresponding pin behind each pin shown inthe foreground. Likewise, bores 527 and 550 each have another borehidden behind the labeled bore such that pairs of complementary matingpins and bores are provided for mating and demating. Each pin 527 has acylindrical contact surface that mates, or inter-fits with acomplementary cylindrical contact surface 570 provided by a pair ofbores 527 in a hanger body 528. Furthermore, two of the cylindricalcontact surfaces 540 on a pair of pins 527 are configured and sized tomate and demate with a complementary cylindrical contact surfaceprovided by a pair of bores 550 formed in an end fitting 548 on alifting tool 534. Tool 534 has an elongate handle similar to tool 34 ofFIG. 3. However, tool 534 also has a pivot pin that helps facilitaterotation of end fitting 548 when inverting base 526 as asprinkler/regulator assembly 36 is raised and inverted, as shown in thevarious photomontage images depicted in FIG. 26. A pair of square stopsare provide on each of end fitting 548 and handle of tool 534 in orderto limit rotation of end fitting 548 relative to the tool handle. Tool534 is used to raise and lower sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 relativeto hanger body 528 atop gooseneck 22 of main water line 20 of anirrigation device.

FIG. 27 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment adaptive supportfor a flexible hose sprinkler head with a sprinkler support body 640that is provided by a frustoconical male outer surface 625 on regulator25 and a complementary frustoconical female outer surface 670 providedby a yoke on a hanger body 628. Hanger body 628 is integrally formedwith a gooseneck 622 to provide a unitary hanger body/gooseneck assembly660. Assembly 660 delivers water to drop hose 23 via gooseneck 622 andsupports a sprinkler/regulator assembly 36 and weight 30 atop hangerbody 628. Hanger body 628 is similar to hanger body 28 (of FIG. 6) withrespect to the yoke.

FIG. 28 illustrates yet another alternative embodiment adaptive supportfor a flexible hose sprinkler head with a sprinkler support body 740that is provided by a frustoconical male outer surface 725 on regulator25 and a complementary frustoconical female outer surface 770 providedby a yoke on a hanger body 728. Hanger body 728 is removably mated togooseneck 722 with interlocking dovetail members 780 and 782,respectively, as shown further in FIG. 28A, to provide a two-piecehanger body/gooseneck assembly 760.

It is understood that an adaptive support can be provided with asprinkler support body and a hanger body where one of the members has ahook or pin with a male contact surface and the other has a hole orfunnel receptacle with a complementary female contact surface. It isfurther understood that any structure on the sprinkler support body andany structure on the hanger body that provides a pair of inter-fittingcontact surfaces can be provided for holding a sprinkler at an elevatedlocation above a field of crops. Likewise, any tool that has anengagement, or mating surface that can be mated and demated with acomplementary surface on a component of a sprinkler/regulator/weightassembly can also be used to lift and drop a sprinkler.

In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural andmethodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entireinvention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodimentsshown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise formsof putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore,claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope ofthe appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with thedoctrine of equivalents.

1. An adaptive support for a flexible hose sprinkler head on an elevatedirrigation supply line, comprising: a sprinkler support body having afirst inter-fitting contact surface, the body disposed to support adownwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose; and a hanger body having asecond inter-fitting contact surface configured to mate with the firstinter-fitting contact surface, the body disposed to support thesprinkler body at an elevated position.
 2. The support of claim 1,wherein the sprinkler support body comprises a male segment and thehanger body comprises a female segment.
 3. The support of claim 2,wherein the male segment is provided by a cylindrical outer surface, andthe female segment is provided by a complementary cylindrical innersurface.
 4. The support of claim 2, wherein the hanger body is aY-shaped yoke and the sprinkler support body is a cylindrical puck. 5.The support of claim 1, further comprising an engagement surfaceprovided on the sprinkler support body and configured to engage with alifting tool.
 6. The support of claim 1, further comprising a liftingtool having an engagement surface configured to mate with acorresponding engagement surface on the sprinkler support body.
 7. Thesupport of claim 6, wherein the lifting tool has a forked pair of tinesand the sprinkler support body has a circumferential array of apertureseach configured to receive one of the tines.
 8. The support of claim 7,wherein each of the tines comprises a cylindrical wire form member.
 9. Asupport for a flexible hose with a sprinkler head of an elevatedirrigation supply line, comprising: a sprinkler support body having oneof a male member and a female member and an engagement surfaceconfigured to mate and demate with a lifting tool, the body affixed to adownwardly extending flexible sprinkler hose; and a hanger body havinganother of the male member and the female member configured to mate withthe one of the male member and the female member, the body disposed tosupport the sprinkler body at an elevated position.
 10. The support ofclaim 9, wherein the engagement surface on the support body comprises abore provided on the sprinkler support body.
 11. The support of claim10, further comprising an elongate arm and a finger disposed at a distalend of the arm and sized to mate and demate with the bore.
 12. Thesupport of claim 9, further comprising a lifting tool having anengagement surface configured to mate with the engagement surface on thesprinkler support body.
 13. The support of claim 12, wherein theengagement surface on the lifting tool is provided by a cylindrical pin.14. The support of claim 13, wherein the lifting tool engagement surfaceis provided by an outer surface of a wire formed fork.
 15. The supportof claim 14, wherein the fork comprises a pair of S-shaped fingers. 16.A method for changing elevation of a sprinkler head on a flexible hoseof an elevated irrigation supply line, comprising: providing a sprinklersupport body communicating with one of the sprinkler head and the hose,a hanger body supported relative to the supply line at an elevatedlocation, and a lifting tool configured to mate and demate with thesupport body; mating the lifting tool with the support body; and whilemated, moving the sprinkler head with the lifting tool between adownwardly depending position beneath the supply line and an elevatedposition where the sprinkler support body mates with the hanger body.17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, after moving thesprinkler head, demating the lifting tool from the support body.
 18. Themethod of claim 16, wherein moving comprises raising the sprinkler headfrom a downwardly depending position to an elevated position supportedby the hanger body.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein moving comprisesdemating the sprinkler head from the hanger body and lowering thesprinkler head from the elevated position to the downwardly dependingposition.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sprinkler support bodycomprises a puck having a cylindrical outer surface providing a malemember and the hanger body comprises a yoke having a complementary innersurface providing a female member for removably receiving the puck.